TSTCA Meet #3 - Meet Preview
The third time's a charm, or at least that what TSTCA squads are hoping for this weekend, as we'll try for a third straight week for some action to kick off at Edinboro. Winter weather derailed the first two TSTCA meets, but the weather looks promising for this Saturday.
GIRLS' PREVIEW
SPRINTS/HURDLES
It look like we'll finally get the season debut of the multi-talented Brenna Cavanaugh of Bentworth. The senior is the top seed in both the 60 meter dash and the 60 meter hurdles. In the dash, North Allegheny's Casey Burton will give her a good run, while Hempfield Area's Bailey Traczynski and Oakland Catholic's Jayla Ellis should compete well in the hurdles.
Burton is also one of the top seeds in the 200 meters, which also includes Upper Saint Clair's Jane Madson, and Baldwin's Alina Stahl. Pine Richland's Danielle Bryant is also entered in the 200 meters, but first, she's the top seed in the 400 meters.
DISTANCE
The girls' mile will be one of the days best events. Sharon's impressive freshman Gianna Labbiento, who put down the state's fastest time over 1,600 meters this season, is in the field, but she'll get a tough test from North Allegheny's Clara Savchik. Butler's Maggie Welty, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's Rylee Kopchak, and Oakland Catholic's Hannah Schupansky are also entered in what could be a very fast race.
Butler's Liz Simms is the top seed in the 800, which will feature Savchik, Kopchak, Schupansky, and South Fayette's Rachel Helbling. In the 3,000 meters, Labbiento will return. She is also PA#1 in the 3,200 meters.
FIELD
Cavanaugh, the top seed in the dash and hurdles, is also the top seed in the long jump. She is the reigning state champ after a massive leap over 19 feet at states last year. Ellis of Oakland Catholic is also entered in the LJ. Zoe Roush of Forest Hills is entered in the LJ, too, but she is favored in the triple jump. She enters the weekend at PA#5 in the event after a strong showing at PSU a few weeks ago.
In the high jump, we'll see a good matchup between a pair of state qualifiers from last year---Trinity's Jaime Handra and North East's Carlye Zahner. Saturday will be the season opener for both girls.
The shot will be a good battle between some of the state's top throwers. PA#6 Mackenna Orie of Hempfield Area is entered, but so is PA#9 Jena Reinheimer of Butler, and PA#10 Sam Dyson of Punxsutawney Area. Corry Area's Abby Whitaker and South Park's Maura Huwalt will be making their respective indoor season debuts.
Molly DeBone of Hempfield Area, currently PA#5 is the one to beat in the pole vault, where she is the top seed.
BOYS' PREVIEW
SPRINTS/HURDLES
Bethel Park's James Krandel is still waiting on his indoor career debut. The senior proved his speed this past spring when he took sixth at states in the 100 meters. He'll come in as the top seed in both the 60 meters and 200 meters on Saturday where should expect some quick times.
In the 400 meters, look for a good race in the battle of the Zs, as West Mifflin's Ziggy Patterson and Greater Latrobe's Zakharee Williams will go for the top spot in the quarter mile.
North Allegheny's Ayden Owens missed out on competing last week, but look for the senior and USC recruit to put forth a big performance this weekend. He's the heavy favorite in the 60 meter hurdles, where his time of 8.02 sits at PA#2.
DISTANCE
Look for a good showdown in the 3,000 meters on Saturday, as North Allegheny standout sophomore Daniel McGoey will look to carry his XC momentum into the winter. He'll go up against a frequent XC rival from the fall in Sam Snodgrass of South Fayette. Bradford Area's Logan Caruso is also in the 3K field, but first he'll race the mile, where he'll go up against Butler's Brett Brady and Seneca Valley's Connor Volk-Klos.
In the 800 meters, North Allegheny's Zach Ehling will look for a fast race against South Fayette's Silas Mays.
FIELD
Owens, the top seed in the hurdles, is also entered in the long jump as the top seed. He's yet to contest the event this season, but has an indoor PR over 22 feet (and an outdoor PR over 23 feet).
The shot put figures to be very good this weekend with a number of boys capable of moving up in the state rankings. South Fayette's Sam Mastro (PA#4) is the top seeded thrower entered, but Bradford's John Eakin (PA#6), who won at PSU two weeks ago, Penn Trafford's Cam Elma, and the Somerset Area duo of Nick Hyde (PA#10) and Dustin Hyde are also in this deep field.
In the pole vault, North Allegheny's Jono Pelusi will look to move up from his spot at PA#10. Baldwin's Nick Lachut and Butler's Jack Codispot will make this a very competitive event come Saturday.